Kyocera Corp. says it is constructing a new solar module manufacturing plant in Tianjin City, China, in order to expand production capacity at Kyocera (Tianjin) Solar Energy Co. Ltd.

Construction of the new plant is timed to align the production capacity of solar modules with the increase in production of solar cells, which Kyocera is set to expand to 650 MW by March 2012, the company notes. Manufacturing modules mainly for the Asian market, the target production capacity of Kyocera Tianjin Solar is 240 MW by 2011.

Construction of the new manufacturing plant will begin in April, with completion scheduled for spring 2010. Upon completion of the new plant, all Kyocera Tianjin Solar manufacturing operations will subsequently be transferred to the new facility.